The tension is increasing among Liberal supporters in Toronto after several voters reported receiving a menacing phone call warning them to take down their political party lawn signs.
The phone calls came days after 30 residents in the St. Paul's and Parkdale-High Park riding reported having their property vandalized. In several cases, people found that the line securing their car brakes were cut. Others had their phone and cable lines severed and reported anti-Liberal graffiti on the walls of their house.
Each resident had a lawn sign on their front lawn showing support for the Liberals.
Carolyn Bennett, the Liberal MP who represents the St. Paul's riding where 14 homes were hit overnight Friday, posted a message on her blog about the newest threat to her constituents.
"Lots more sign requests but a number of worrying reports in a different part of the riding," she wrote Oct. 6. "Some supporters have been called with a message that if they don't take down their signs they 'will be next.'
"I was saddened to have to go and pick up a sign from someone so frightened that they didn't even want to have the sign hidden in their back yard," she continued. "It underlined the upsetting nature of these attacks. The small percentage of citizens engaged in the political process have been attacked."
Toronto police Det. Lorenzo Lombardi confirmed to CTV.ca that some residents had complained of menacing phone calls, and said authorities are investigating the latest incident.
Bennett commended the police for immediately launching a criminal investigation and said they have taken forensic evidence from some of the sites. She said she has seen an increased police patrol in the neighbourhood and on her street.
"It is so awful," she wrote. "I believe that this is NOT the work of a political party or campaign but of a very sick individual or group of individuals who don't care about the consequences of their actions but are motivated by an anti-Liberal ideology and fanaticism.
"I am confident the police will be able to solve this," she said.
She said while some of her constituents have chosen to take down their lawn signs, fearing for their safety, there have also been an unprecedented number of requests for them.
